A/N: I am back! Enjoy.

A Gym Battle—and a Date?

Byron was in his gym's office, and he was in pure contemplation.

How could he let himself slip and be so... kind to her? How could he compliment her the way he did, even if it was a tiny and vague remark? How could he think her attractive enough to stare at her from a distance? How could he tell a person he barely trusted about himself? A person he was convinced that he entirely hated from the start?

He doubted whether he should blame himself, or her.

Debating with himself like this would not make things better; but he had to think of it, or else he'd go totally mad that he wasn't able to sort his feelings out.

Wait, feelings? He had no feelings toward her! He hardly in his life harbored any feelings for a woman who was not family. And that was going to stay that way.

It wasn't hard for him to realize just how much she'd been clouding his thoughts... How easily he let her get into his head!

Sensing his trainer's distress, something Shieldon wasn't used to from Byron, the pokémon jogged up concernedly to the gym leader. Byron looked up from his office's desk at the sound of the fossil pokémon's steps. "Yes, Shieldon?"

In a few cries, the pokémon let Byron know that he could tell something was bothering his trainer, and if there was anything he could do to help.

"I'm OK," sighed Byron, "There's just some girl messing with me lately. Don't worry, I'll be fine." He said nor5mally, but was surprised that even one of his pokémon could recognize his moodiness at the moment.

The pokémon settled near him on his desk to ensure his well-being.

Byron checked his watch. It was half past eleven, and it was an hour ago since he began gym duty; and not one trainer had come so far.

Man, is the Sinnoh League just getting tougher, or what? Nobody's been challenging lately.

It was true. Byron often sat in boredom by his desk in the gym these days, on duty, with the rare trainer passing by to request a challenge. The last time a trainer came to him was four days ago! And Byron had handily beat them, too.

To alleviate his boredom Byron usually had all his pokémon out wandering the gym to just watch from afar; there was also actual workout equipment in the gym so he would keep himself fairly occupied there. But just the sheer absence of trainers dropping by for a challenge made him wonder why in Arceus' name he was still obliged to be on duty, when he could be doing more productive things, like spending time in the Oreburgh Mine to dig out that precious Omanyte fossil...

Which, of course, brought his thoughts back to her.

"Dammit!" He smacked his hand on the desk, startling Shieldon. "The girl keeps infesting my thoughts!"

The pokémon stood on all fours and leaned into his trainer comfortingly. Byron apologized.

"I'm sorry," he said. "My fault."

Shortly after, Shieldon up and left.

Byron only miserably placed his palm on face, and stayed like that for a while.

"Hey, Byron?" came the voice of a gym worker after some time, and Byron's senses returned.

"Yeah? Need anything from me?" The steel type gym leader tried to reply as coolly as possible.

"I heard you aren't doing well, courtesy of your Shieldon—so is there anything I can do for you?"

Byron smiled at his pokémon's caring nature—he always valued those sorts of things, in spite of what certain people might have thought of him. He answered, "Just get me a cold glass of water, Mervyn. It's sweltering in here. Thanks."

Mervyn nodded, and left. Byron returned to his thoughts, and sighed in frustration. His Shieldon returned, and offered him comfort, but Byron gently declined the effort, saying, "I swear, I'm fine."

Byron could tell the fossil pokémon wouldn't buy it.

The normally spirited, vivacious, tough-as-an-Aggron guy like him... how could he be troubled by anything? Especially by some random woman?

Mervyn hastily reentered the office, his hold on the glass of water stiff so that it wouldn't fall, but he exclaimed: "Here you go, Byron. I don't mean to rush you, but a challenger just dropped in! I know you've been very bored because of the lack of challengers so this is great news! They'd like to start as soon as possible, they said."

Byron's entire face lit up. Finally, somebody gutsy! He would be forever grateful to this person, arriving exactly at a time when he was both bored out of his wits and stressed out, but perhaps only if they managed to beat him and hold up an exciting battle.

"Tell 'em I'm coming for 'em," Byron stated, taking a nice refreshing swig of water.

"Alright, I'm gonna call the referee."

Byron leaned back in his chair, and grinned. At last, something to cure him of his boredom and uneasiness about a particular person.


Aine knew what she was getting herself into.

Ever since her first encounter with him, she had been inclined to avoid him at all costs although somehow her efforts were mostly unsuccessful. She was taking a risk, but for her own sake, and her pokémon's, she had to come to the Gym. It was either now or never.

As for the day before? Aine was still unsure of it—they weren't at each other's throats completely. In fact, she could recall him even teasing her a little bit, and damn her, but she had teased him back.

Before that gave her other ideas, she made an attempt to forget it.

The gym worker who had attended to her told her that the Gym Leader was on his way; Aine waited patiently, but nervously for him to make his way out. In the meantime, she paced the battle arena, which was by far the most tough-looking Gym she had been in yet; gracing every inch were purely iron metal, silvery diamond plate patterned floors and walls; it was certainly the coldest gym atmosphere she had witnessed up to this point.

"Are y'all ready?" Aine asked her three companions, who were out of their pokeballs.

Prinplup perked up, flapping his wings in animated hunger; Scyther made some loud cry in agreement as well; and even Bronzor was itching for a taste of battle.

Aine had prepared for this; she'd trained her butt off to beat the gym leader, get her badge, and leave the dreaded Oreburgh.

"OK!" shouted an all-too familiar voice. Aine, up until now, had never heard this amount of liveliness in it. "Where are you, challenger?"

"I'm here," she answered, looking the other way.

That voice.

The one that spoke so sharply. Distinct.

The one that belonged to the exact person who was on his mind just seconds ago.

All of a sudden, his energy died down. He narrowed his eyes.

"Why is she here?" He growled.

"I'm going to challenge you. Why else?"

Of course! She wanted a badge! Maybe, he thought, he oughta deliberately lose to her to make her go away. No, no, that'd too be easy—weak—not to me0ntion unfair to his pokémon.

He was going to win. But he wasn't only going to defeat her. He was going to stamp her out. Quash her senseless. Send her out on the verge of tears. He was personally going to let her know of her own incompetence—that she should never come back again.

He regained his spirit. "As ya' wish, girlie." He reached for a pokeball, jogging up to his end of the arena. "Magnemite, show them your incredible defense!"

Aine would have never guessed that Byron was this lively during gym battles; it made her giggle a bit, and she said, at last, "Scyther, come out here!"

The referee soon rushed in, reciting the rules. Byron let Aine have the first move, starting the match.


"You seem very stressed over there, girlie!" shouted Byron gleefully in the midst of battle, while he had the clear upper hand; he was down to two pokémon and Aine to one. She did her best to resist blaming herself, because she knew she prepared better than this. He was way stronger than she thought... and boy, did he love to rub the entire notion of defense in her face the whole time. Indeed, his pokémon's defensive capacities were all quite so exceptional, that her own could barely land attacks. However, she did notice his pokémon were somewhat on the weaker side when it came to speed, but not early enough in the match to take full advantage of it. Oh, the regret. To think, she might have had the upper hand by now!

Byron admitted to himself that he'd never had so much fun demoralizing somebody. To see that he was the reason she was a total mess!

The fun! A laugh escaped Byron, a sort of guffaw, the kind that's thoughtless and unapologetic. Aine for the first time found herself to be genuinely hurt by it. It was only yesterday that he went on to acknowledge her for a job well done! Which, to be frank, gave her a warm feeling inside, but of course! She should have expected some type of regression. How could she for a second think him capable of change—the possibility of actually being kind—toward her?

Taking note of Aine's sudden stillness—just standing there dejectedly—Byron frowned, asking, "Hey, c'mon. We don't have all day."

"You're right," said Aine, reaching for a pokeball and withdrawing Prinlup. "I forfeit."

"Forfeit?" Considering how headstrong he thought she was as a person... that disappointed him. Massively. He was having a blast up to this moment.

"Yes," replied Aine, who slid a forefinger under her eye to stop a tear. "That said, you've technically won. Good for you, Byron." She took a seat on the bleachers close by, trying to compose herself.

"Hold on a second there," he withdrew his own pokémon, heading to where she was. Reluctantly, he took a seat next to her. "Why on earth would you do that?"

"Isn't it as clear as day? You and I both know that I was going to lose. And I can't stand that you're entertained by it all."

"So?" Byron asked. "Can't—"

"All that, along with your semi-decent behavior to me yesterday, i-it made me think—"

"What did you think?" Byron pressed, puffing his chest and crossing his arms. "Ya' didn't believe that was actually going to last, right?"

"I-it would have been really silly on my end if I did—just a fanciful idea—" A slight break in the voice. "I need to go." Sniffling, she let her red tresses hide the side of her face that was exposed to him and slung her bag over her shoulder.

Goodness gracious, had he actually made her feel this bad? To the point that she didn't want to finish the match? That she wasn't being as obstinate, as strong-willed, as sharp-tongued as she usually was, worried him on some level. All those qualities were what he liked about her—yes, he liked, respected. The acceptance of this fact didn't come until that very second, when she was about to go, and he acted out on it.

Aine, hurriedly checking her belongings to ensure she had everything, was but a moment away from making herself scarce, when an unanticipated, gentle tug at her hand stopped her.

"Let me be!" Aine snapped, impatiently and nervously, shivering at the contact, especially since he did not let go.

"...Stay. Come on." He requested a little hesitantly.

"Stay? For what? I gave you the battle. What more could you possibly want? My pride and my dignity?"

"No." he said, and not thinking clearly on what he was about to say next—"I want to repay you."

If he had wanted to capture her attention, he had done exactly that. However, she quickly figured that he had to be messing with her, trying to build her up only to tear her down worse. "You're joking," she stated, eyes alight with a hurting anger. She tried to make her way once more, when again, the contact with her hand was made, this time firmer.

"I'm not, and if ya' stop and let me talk you'll know that I'm not," he looked at her seriously, and Aine was stunned. "Look, let me just repay ya' for giving the battle to me." As honestly as he said these words, Byron still hid the true meaning of wanting her to stay. How strange it was that he felt remorse for pushing her almost close to tears, when that had been his original intention! A man who's falling in love sometimes lacks consistency.

"How do you plan on following through with that?" She snorted. "Just give it up. There's nothing you can repay me with that I'd willing accept."

How? He really hadn't thought this through—and yet, with all the assurance of a confident answer, he said, "Come to dinner with me tonight."

Aine's complexion changed to the shade of her hair, while confusion, aversion, and a pint-size dose of delight overcame her. It couldn't be possible.

How could he, of all guys on this goddamn planet, ask her for dinner? Wasn't she the most despicable person he ever knew, ever since she had decided to lay her fingers on his darling fossil? And the tiny subtle feeling she was getting, something close to pleasure, if it wasn't that completely, that he would want to take her out, made her want to retch.

Yet that sliver of delight was what came out in her answer. Meekly, eyes still a little misty, she near-whispered: "I would... enjoy it."

"Is that a yes, girlie?"

Her lips turned ever-so-slightly at their corners. "As a matter of fact, it is."

He grinned, took her hand, and pulled her a bit closer, enough to whisper in her ear: "Six. Meet me here. Bring that quick mouth of yours, because I'm feeling like arguing with ya' tonight." Gently, he pushed her away.

Her complexion, now an embarrassingly dark shade of plum, probably couldn't darken any more than what it already was. He had caught her off guard, but she responded as collectedly as she could manage. "Isn't... my mouth what you don't like about me?"

"I don't like a thing about you." —an evident lie, but it still puzzled her; "But I'm willing to bear with ya' for once."

"I hope I can feel the same way."

"Whatever, girlie," Byron chuckled. "Just remember what we have set for later today."

Aine couldn't understand what she'd just signed up for. Byron himself, wondered what made him propose the idea in the first place.

Yup, he asked her out. And their first gym battle didn't go exactly as either of them wished... Anyway, I hope that anyone who is reading likes how this story is coming out! If you don't, please tell me what I can improve on. Ideas would be great too...

Find out what their date's going to be like... In the next chapter, of course!

EDIT 4/14/19: So I'm currently in the process of revamping this story and I wanted to ask for some advice if anybody happens to chance upon this... I've just reread that last bit of dialogue, and realized that the whole "mouth" thing can be taken in one of SEVERAL ways. If you know what I mean... I'm sorry if you didn't think that at all prior to reading this little aside but to me those sexual undertones are hella apparent... maybe I'm just a perv, but. The question stands and I want to know what you think.